Ayent stretches along the sunny slope of the Rhône Valley, from La Maya at 500 m to the summit of the Wildhorn at 3,247 m. Its villages lie among vineyards, hills, forests, meadows, pastures and marshes. Above them, in the mountain zone at around 1,500 to 1,600 m, is Anzère, Ayent’s resort. These differences in altitude give the municipality its varied character: water management, village history and alpine scenery each make their own contribution.
Water management at the museum and out on the trails
In Botyre, the Musée valaisan des Bisses is housed in a historic 17th-century building. Its exhibition space covers 270 m²; its story of traditional irrigation channels spans the period from Roman times to the present day. Interactive displays indoors and outdoors introduce children to irrigation techniques that are still used today. The museum focuses on both the long history of the bisses and their continuing importance.
The water system can also be explored outdoors: along the Chemin du Musée at the Bisse d’Ayent, the Bisse de Sion and the Bitailla, information panels explain the complex water supply of a catchment area and how the channels are interconnected across the landscape. The Grand Bisse d’Ayent was built in 1442 and irrigates the meadows and vineyards of Ayent and Grimisuat using traditional irrigation or sprinkling. These examples show different aspects of the subject, from historic structures to the paths that reveal the links between waterways.
Trails along historic waterways
The Bisse des Audannes was built between 1859 and 1862 by the city of Sion and the municipality of Ayent. Its remains and traces can be seen in the Lapiaz des Audannes and across the Serin alpine pasture. The Serin–Anzère trail follows the bisse for 1 km. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
The Bisse de Clavau offers a different kind of trail: it is lined with dry-stone walls, and the hiking path follows its old course. It runs along elevated paths beside old wooden channels and through a small tunnel. Along the route, numerous small huts invite you to sample regional products. If you plan to take this trail, check local trail conditions here as well.
Chapels and local history
The Chapelle de Botyre dates back to 1268. Its feast day is celebrated every year on 11 November with a sung mass. The Chapelle St-Michel, dating from the 17th century, stands in Place-Villa; its furnishings include a Baroque altar. The Chapelle de Signèse-Argnou, built in 1898, was replaced by a small church in 1956. Its stained-glass windows are by the painter Monnier, and its mosaics by Charles Menge. These buildings bring together different historical periods and artistic styles.
More things to do in the Rawyl region
In the wider Rawyl region, Lac de Tseuzier lies at 1,774 m. It is the starting point for numerous family-friendly and more challenging hikes. The easy loop around the lake is 4.9 km long and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. The climbing areas of Rawyl, Les Andins and Audannes have more than 300 routes of all difficulty levels. On the left bank of the Tseuzier dam, the path is accessible with a pushchair; this information applies to that bank, not to all paths in the region.
A shuttle runs between Anzère, Ayent and the Tseuzier dam. Check the timetable for your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Anzère, Les Agettes, Evolène, Vex, Mase, Vex, Nax, Evolène.
Back to the main travel overview: Ering.
